Timeline August 1968

Events in August 1968 14

• 1896 – 1968 Konstantin Rokossovsky (1896-1968) Died 3 August 1968, aged 71 The Soviet and Polish military commander led Red Army forces to major victories against Nazi Germany, including at Stalingrad and in the liberation of Warsaw. He later served as Poland's Minister of National Defence during the early Cold War. He died in Moscow and was buried in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis.
• 1905 – 1968 Kay Francis (1905-1968) American actress, a glamorous star of pre-Code melodramas and comedies.
• 1968 Prague Spring reforms begin Alexander Dubcek launches liberalization of Czechoslovak communism Alexander Dubcek became First Secretary of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and initiated a program of political liberalization known as "socialism with a human face," easing censorship and travel restrictions. The reforms drew alarm from the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact states. The period ended abruptly with the August invasion.
• 1968 James Brown releases Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud Black pride anthem An anthem of the Black Power era.
• 1968 Jimmy Page forms the New Yardbirds Plant, Jones and Bonham Page recruits singer Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham.
• 1968 Robert Johnson's Crossroads recorded by Cream Wheels of Fire Cream's live version of his song becomes a rock classic.
• 1968 The Doors top the charts with Hello, I Love You Waiting for the Sun Their second number one, from their only number one album.
• 1968 US Open 1968 — Open Era begins Men: Arthur Ashe · Women: Virginia Wade First Open Era US Open. Arthur Ashe became the first African-American man to win the US Open.
• 1968 Janis Joplin releases Cheap Thrills with Big Brother Piece of My Heart Number one for eight weeks.
• 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia Soviet-led forces crush the Prague Spring Roughly 200,000 troops and 2,000 tanks from the Soviet Union and four other Warsaw Pact states invaded Czechoslovakia to halt Alexander Dubcek's reforms. Czechoslovak citizens engaged in widespread but nonviolent resistance. Dubcek was removed from power the following year and hardline rule was restored.
• 1968 1968 Democratic National Convention protests Violent clashes between police and anti-war demonstrators in Chicago Thousands of anti-Vietnam War protesters gathered in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, where Chicago police violently confronted demonstrators in scenes broadcast live on national television. A federal commission later described the response as a "police riot." The unrest deepened divisions within the Democratic Party ahead of the presidential election.
• 1968 Kay Francis dies in New York Kay Francis dies aged 63.
• 1968 Marriage to Sonja Haraldsen Married Sonja Haraldsen in Oslo Cathedral after King Olav finally gave his consent. She was the first commoner to marry into the Norwegian royal family since the 15th century. The couple would have two children: Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon.
• 1968 The Byrds release Sweetheart of the Rodeo Country rock With Gram Parsons, a founding album of country rock.